In a great tie-in to this week’s Halloween celebrations, Fast Travel Games brings the World of Darkness to virtual life in Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice. Stepping into the shoes of Justice, a vampire from the Banu Haqim clan, the narrative unfurls a tale of revenge and reclamation. As your mentor’s murder shrouds the city of Venice in shadows, you embark on a journey through its eerie alleys and winding sewers. We drenched ourselves in darkness and blood on the Quest platform.
Visually, this one instantly impresses. The grimy byways and decaying crypts set a fittingly dark stage, immersing players in the darker side of Venice. A haunting soundtrack adds to the suspense and atmosphere as well, complementing the intricately designed environments. The voice acting, delivered by the likes of Zack Hoffman and Diana Gardner, further enhances the audiovisual experience and immersive nature of the game.
While the revenge plotline doesn’t offer groundbreaking or entirely unexpected twists, it provides a sturdy backbone for the game to spur you on through the narrative. For longtime fans of the source material, the gradual unraveling of the World of Darkness lore is also a plus, injecting depth and intrigue into the rich narrative. In that same vein, the incorporation of handwritten notes and hidden artifacts offers a rewarding incentive for exploration, enriching the player’s understanding of the game’s universe as you find these tidbits of lore.
The gameplay itself balances stealth, action, and RPG elements. Justice’s array of vampiric abilities allows for creative approaches to missions – as well as replay value as you attempt other strategies. The combat system, though not overly challenging, offers a satisfying array of takedowns. The choice between stealthy navigation and direct confrontation adds depth to each encounter – though it’s likely you’ll develop a preference for one over the other.
The freedom to choose your approach is a notable highlight – evoking memories of 2D classics like Dishonored at time. The environments are intelligently designed, offering multiple paths to objectives. Whether opting for a silent, more methodical approach or flexing your supernatural muscle with a full frontal assault, the game accommodates various playstyles. The upgrade system, driven by experience points, provides meaningful progression and customization as well, opening up new combat options over time.
The missions end up being less open that this suggests though, as they’re ultimately still fairly linear compared to games like Dishonored. The game occasionally holds the player’s hand, emphasizing specific objectives to make sure you never stray too far from the path. This guidance keeps you on track, but it does make exploration feel a bit forced and mainly tied to collectible hunting.
In terms of immersion, Justice successfully transports players to its dark rendition of Venice. The teleportation system, fittingly aligned with a vampire’s abilities in a game like this, feels intuitive and natural – and offers a comfortable experience. The combat is satisfying as well, allowing players to dispatch enemies in iconic ways. Object interaction can be a bit finicky at times though, and the AI can feel a bit simplistic in how quickly they lose track of you and give up.
In conclusion, Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice delivers a visually stunning and engaging experience within the World of Darkness, making it a great choice for the spooky season. While it grapples with a few design quirks, it successfully captures the essence of the universe crafted by the source IP. For fans of all things vampire, this is your go-to choice for some VR fun this week.
Score: 7.7/10
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